Professional Researcher
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry is now recruiting a Professional Researcher at the Assistant, Associate, or Full ranks. The successful candidate will perform structural and biochemical studies of protein kinases involved in MAP kinase signaling, especially utilizing cryoEM and mass spectrometry. As an independent investigator the candidate will oversee and guide a small group which will perform the following: (1) express purify and biochemically characterize target protein kinases; (2) collect cryoEM data on well behaved targets; (3) perform 3D reconstructions and model building of the targeted kinases. The candidate is expected to develop new technologies at the juncture of mass spectrometry and cryoEM to bring new capabilities to structural biology. The candidate is expected to apply for scientific grants and to write manuscripts summarizing the findings of the group.

The applicant must have a PhD in biochemistry or biophysics and a strong track record of utilizing and developing multiple structural biology techniques to understand mechanisms of difficult but important protein targets. The candidate must have research expertise in taking a project from the point of inception through purification, biochemical and cryoEM studies all the way to the atomic structure elucidating molecular mechanisms.

A strong research record is essential, including evidence of publishing in high impact peer-reviewed journals and experience in writing and submitting proposals for federally sponsored research. Applicants will have strong written, verbal, and presentation skills and an ability to communicate and work in an interdisciplinary team environment. In addition, she or he should have excellent management skills with experience mentoring and advising students and trainees.

Required Qualifications:
• Experience in protein expression from bacterial, yeast and mammalian cells
• Experience in protein purification via variety of methods
• Ability to design, set up and perform biochemical and enzyme assays on protein kinases
• Thorough understanding of mass spectrometry discovery pipeline
• Ability to prepare samples fro cryoEM imaging
• Ability to set up ThermoFisher electron microscopes and collect data using SerialEM
• Ability to obtain high resolution 3D reconstructions with Relion, cisTEM and cryoSPARC
• Ability to build accurate and geometrically correct protein models into the cryoEM maps with Phenix and Rosetta
• Unix/Linux command line proficiency and bash scripting
• Basic levels of Python programming
• Demonstrated experience as a research lead
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• High productivity and successful record publishing in high impact journals

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue as needed throughout the recruitment period. Salary and rank will be commensurate with the applicants experience and training.

UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service that has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF02866, with a CV and three references (contact information only).